Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard
TUESDAY, 20 AUGUST 2024
(continued on Wednesday 21 August 2024)
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (EXTENDED DURATION OF COASTAL PERMITS FOR MARINE FARMS) AMENDMENT BILL
In Committee
Debate resumed.
Part 1 Amendments to Part 7A of Resource Management Act 1991 (continued)
CHAIRPERSON (Barbara Kuriger): Right, good morning, members. The committee is resumed. Last night, when we were considering the bill, we were debating Part 1. I’ve got the run sheet here of the questions and the engagement that were being asked for last night. So we’re still on Part 1 and the question is that Part 1 stand part.
Hon JO LUXTON (Labour): Oh, thank you very much, Madam Chair. I would just like to bring to the Minister’s attention that the question I asked last night was around his wont, desire, to have an aquaculture bill. He didn’t answer my question last night when I brought up the fact that the process was quite rushed, that people didn’t have much time to submit, and I asked the question as to why he didn’t take the time, allow a longer period of consultation in order for him, perhaps, to be able to develop the aquaculture bill that he so desires to do. So I look forward to the answer from the Minister with regards to that.
I also have another question. It is in regards to the time frame allowed for consultation and the very quick report-back date for this bill. If you will indulge, I may just quote a couple of submitters. There was some real concern from submitters about the very quick, short consultation period, and in particular from iwi. For example, I would be interested in hearing the Minister’s thoughts on the expectations as a Te Tiriti partner insofar as this consultation period has gone, and therefore the final bill that’s come to the House that we’re debating now and the changes that weren’t made as a result of this very short consultation period—where we’ve had 1,100 submitters, a thousand were opposed, and perhaps not feeling quite listened to. So I’d be really interested in the Minister’s thoughts on this. For example, Ngāi Tahu talked about the fact that “the engagement … has fallen well short of Cabinet guidelines and our expectations as a Te Tiriti partner. And also Waikato-Tainui have mentioned that “While the Government has committed in its coalition agreement to deliver longer durations for marine farming permits, it has also committed to honour the undertakings in Treaty of Waitangi settlements. This proposal is a clear breach of that commitment.”
So I would like to hear from the Minister, again, around his desire for the aquaculture bill that he could have had if he had extended this period out, and therefore also allowed proper consultation from all of New Zealanders and including iwi Māori, who feel that they haven’t been given that opportunity and it is a bit of a breach as far as Te Tiriti obligations go. So I’d really like to hear from the Minister about that, please.
